Recent VA News Releases


        To view and download VA news releases, please visit the following
Internet address:
                        http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel>


        VA To Grant Benefits To More Vietnam Veterans

        WASHINGTON (Jan. 23, 2003) - Based upon a recently released review
of scientific studies, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi has
decided to extend benefits to Vietnam veterans with chronic lymphocytic
leukemia (CLL).

        "Compelling evidence has emerged within the scientific community
that exposure to herbicides such as Agent Orange is associated with CLL,"
Principi said. "I'm exercising my legal authority to ensure the full range
of VA benefits is available to Vietnam veterans with CLL."

        The ruling means that veterans with CLL who served in Vietnam during
the Vietnam War don't have to prove that illness is related to their
military service to qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs disability
compensation.  Additionally, for more than 20 years, VA has offered special
access to medical care to Vietnam veterans with any health problems that may
have resulted from Agent Orange exposure, and this decision will ensure
higher-priority access to care in the future.

        The decision to provide compensation was based upon a recent report
by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) that found among scientific studies
"sufficient evidence of an association" between exposure to herbicides
during the Vietnam War and CLL.

        The IOM review, conducted at VA's request, was the latest in a
series spanning the period since 1993 when the independent, non-governmental
agency first published a report for VA that examined thousands of relevant
scientific studies on the health effects of various substances to which
American servicemembers may have been exposed in Vietnam.

        "On the modern battlefield, not all injuries are caused by shrapnel
and bullets," Principi said.  "This latest IOM study and my decision to act
upon it are the latest examples of VA's continuing efforts to care for the
needs of our combat veterans."

        VA requested the IOM panel of experts to focus on CLL in their
report because of veterans' concerns that CLL shares some similarities with
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which the IOM had previously connected to Agent
Orange exposure.

        Principi ordered the development of regulations to enable VA to
begin paying compensation benefits once a final rule takes effect.
Publication of that regulation is expected in the near future.  VA will
publish further details, when available, on its Web site at
http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/benefits/herbicide/.

        In the meantime, veterans with questions about health-care,
compensation and survivor benefits may call a toll-free help line at
1-800-749-8387 for information.  VA also encourages Vietnam veterans who
have not done so to request a subscription to Agent Orange Review, VA's free
newsletter that will keep them abreast of developments on this issue and
other policies and scientific findings in the future.

        Newsletter subscription information is available from the help line
number above.  Back issues and additional information about Agent Orange are
available at another VA Web site at http://www.va.gov/agentorange/.


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